Tulsa Public Schools Gives Several Clubs Bikes

When schools cancelled in person classes because of the pandemic, the Bike Clubs in Tulsa Public Schools ended their training rides too.

The students' final ride was off and the free bikes at the end of the year seemed unlikely, but organizers didn't give up.

But the 5th Graders in Bike Club will get the new bikes they were promised. Volunteers gathered at a warehouse to build 379 mountain bikes for distribution next week. The students earned them through training in how to be safe - and enjoy cycling.

"We were able to regroup in the last few weeks and pull together" said Adam Vanderburg, one of the leaders of the group. "We'll make good on our promise, and we're really feeling good about that."

The pandemic shut down training, made it difficult to contact scattered students, and delayed shipping of the bikes.

"We didn't even think we would be able to follow through on building these bikes" said Mike Wozniak, another leader of Bike Club.

He said between the interruptions of shipping and CDC guidelines for groups, they had to change their plans. The bikes arrived Tuesday night.